Sewing machine



ct. 28, 1930. F. w. BRINTNALL SEWING MACH INE Filed July 2 1927 2 Sheets-Shea?J l F. w. BRINTNALL SEWING MACHINE Oct. 28, 1930.

Filed July 2, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .ff/5K. A

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Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES P,\TENT OFFICE FRANK W. BRINTNALL, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO NATIONAL AUTOMOTIVE FIBRES, INC., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPO- RATION OF DELAWARE SEWING MACHINE Application led July 2, 1927. Serial No. 203,231.

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines and more particularly to a machine for sewing an upstanding seam, and an object of the present invention is to provide a very simple, compact construction of sewing head whereby a plurality of parallel upstanding seams may be simultaneously sewed by employing a plurality of such heads in a single machine, and further to secure compactness and simplicity of construction and speed of operation by an arrangement whereby the work is continuously fed forward during the sewing operation. Another object is to stitch the upstanding seam close to the bmy of the work and give clearance between t e work and the movable parts of the stitching mechanism, and to provide a machine especially adapted for sewing the parallel seams of stuffed upholstery with a continuous movement of the work. A further ohject of the present invention is to secure the several advantages inherent in the construction, arrangement and combination of elements, all as hereinafter more fully set forth.

With the above and other ends in view, the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed `out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure lis a front elevation of a sewing head illustrative of an embodiment of the present invention and showing adjacent work forming and feeding mechanism of a machine in connection with which the head is adapted to cooperate, said mechanism and the work being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one side of the head and adjacent machine parts;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the side of the head opposite that shown in Fig. 2 and showing the work and Work forming and feeding mechanism in section;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the head, showing the same in transverse section;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional detail through a portion of the head;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail of the cam mechanism for moving the head;

Fig. 7 is a perspective detail illustrative of the operation of the stitch forming mechanism;

Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are diagrammatic views illustrative of the stitch forming devices and showing said devices in their progressive positions to more clearly show their operation, and

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail of a seam embracing foot carried by the head and showing the manner in which the seam is formed up.

The device or machine part hereinafter referred to as the sewing head comprises a suitable frame carrying all of the sewing instrumentalities including a" needle, needle bar, looper, driving means for the bar and looper, and thread tensioning means. The head therefore comprises a unitary structure for performing the entire sewing operation and carries all of the instrumentalities necessary or incident thereto, said head being constructed, and arranged for application to a sewing machine havlng instrumentalities for feeding the work and forming the same with an upstanding seam to be stitched transverselyk by the needle and other stitch forming means carried by the head, said work feeding means being arranged to continuously feed the work forward during the sewing operation, and the head being so supported upon the machine as to have a forward movement with the work during the time the-needle is engaged with the work, and so connected with a power or driving shaft .of the machine as to receive motion therefrom to operate the sewing instrumentalities and at the same time permit such movement of the head.

Only such fragmentary portions of parts of the machine as are necessary to illustrate the source of power for driving the sewing instrumentalities carried by the head, the manner of supporting the head, and the means for feeding the work and forming an upstanding seam thereon, are shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 represents a suitable supporting member or wall arranged above a suitable bed or table 2 of the sewing machine proper, and passing over this table are endless chains 3 driven by sprocket wheels 4 on a shaft 5 located below the plane of the table. This chain 3 has teeth to engage the work and feed the same forward with a continuous movement. As shown, the work is a piece of upholstery formed with an upstanding seam and by providing a number of sewing heads, a number of these longitudinal, spaced apart seams may be simultaneously formed and sewed to make up a strip of up holstery of the usual form having an outer covering 7 of fabric or other suitable material, an inner fabric backing 8 and strips 9 of cotton or other suitable material between the facing and backing and extending longitudinally of the upholstery strip between the longitudinal seams6 which stand outwardly from the back of the upholstery strip. The machine is provided with means, not shown, for feeding these strips or slivers 9 lof cotton between the facing and backing material continuously, these strips and both backing and facing materials being drawn from rolls of the material, not shown, so that long continuous strips of upholstery may be formed and sewed with a continuous movement through the machine.

As the work is fed toward the sewing head by the chains 3, and beneath spaced apart plates 10, the facing and backing material is gradually brought together between the strips of cotton 9 and formed upwardly between the adjacent edges of the plates 10, by a thin plate 11 set on edge with its upper edge inclined upwardly to gradually raise the fabric, said edge portion being cut away as at 12 adjacent the needle so that the plate lwill not interfere with the sewing of the seam and the seam after being sewed will pass on out of the machine. Plates 13 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on the chain at each side of the plate 11 assist in feeding the work forward and thus as the work is moved forwardly, the facing 7 is folded upon itself upwardly between the cotton strips with the backing fabric 8 extending closely over the upstanding fold to form a seam which is to be sewed transversely and as close to the horizontal portions or back of the upholstery as possible, thus uniting the facing and backing fabrics in an upstanding seam between adjacent strips of cotton filling.

To support the sewing head and transmit motion thereto for operatingr the sewing instrumentalities, brackets 14 are secured to the supporting member or wall 1 and mounted in these brackets is a drive shaft 15 upon which is pivotally hung a sewing-head frame 16 by means of bearing brackets 17 to turn about the shaft axis, that is, the sewing head'has a limited swinging movement upon the shaft 15 toward and from the supporting wall 1, and this swinging movement is limited by means of a rod 18 (Figs. 1 and 2) having a head 19 to fit within a socket formed in. the wall 1 with its opposite end extending into a sleeve 2() having a conical end engaging a seat opening therefor in a bracket plate 21 on the frame 16, said rod having a coiled spring 22 sleeved thereon within the sleeve between the inner end thereof and a head 23 on the rod, the spring thus exerting a force to hold the frame swung toward the wall 1.

Motion for operating the sewing instrumentalities carried by the head, is transmitted thereto through a bevel pinion 24 fixed on the shaft 15 between the bearing brackets 17 and a bevel pinion 25 secured to the upper end of a cam shaft 26 mounted in suitable bearings in the ends of the frame 16. Secured upon the cam shaft 26 within the frame 16 which is open at the sides there of between its ends which form the bearings for the cam shaft, is a cam member having a 4 lower cam portion 27 to be engaged by a pin 28 longitudinally slidable in a guide bearing 29 therefor mounted in the back side wall of the frame 16, said pin being arranged to engage at its rear end,.the wall 1 so that as the shaft 26 turns, the cam 27 will engage the pin and swing the frame 16 upon its piv otal support, or shaft 15, against the action of .the spring 22 which holds said frame swung toward the wall with the pin in contact with said wall and the cam. The frame carrying the sewing instrumentalities is thus swung forward and backward in timed relation to the rotation of said cam shaft and the operation of the sewing devices driven thereby as hereinafter described.

Secured to the lower end of the frame 16 is a member which may be termed afoot 3() formed to engage the work at each side of the upstanding seam, said foot being divided by a longitudinal slot 31 through which the seam passes and the walls at each side of this slot are each formed with an elongated opening 32 through which the needle 33 passes in sewing the seam. The seam is thus guided and held by the foot While being pierced by the needle.

The needle 33 is carried by an arm or ncedle bar 34 attached to the outer end of a stud 35 on a yoke 36 which fits between the side walls of the frame and is journaled thereon by pivot pins 37 so that said yoke may swing in a vertical plane within the frame, and project the needle through the seam and retract the same therefrom, said needle being curved in the direction of its length concentric with the pivotal axis of the yoke or the axis of the pins 37. To impart this swinging motion to the yoke which 4is guided in such movement by the frame 16 to swing in a vertical plane, a block 33 provided with a vertical opening 38*t through which the shaft 26 extends, is mounted between cam surfaces of cam members or blocks 39 and 40 on said shaft, said surfaces being inclined to the axis of the gage within a bore-or bearing therefor in the stud 35 on the'yoke, said stud 42 being free to turn upon its longitudinal axis within said bearing, thus permitting the wobble'block to rock on an axis transversely of this axis of swinging movement of the yoke 36, on pins 37. Therefore rotation of the shaft 26 and cam blocks 39 and 40, cause the yoke to swing in a vertical plane and swingthe needle beneath the lowerl end of the frame 16 through the openings 32 in thefootBO thereon and pierce the upstanding seam confined withinA the slot 31 of the foot. The cam 2 7 which is alsosecured to the shaft 26 below the block 39 and which, as shown may be formed integral with said block, simultaneously acts to swing the entire head in a direction longitudinally ofthe seam and in timed relation to the swinging movement ofthe needle, and therefore by properly forming and relatively positioning these cams, the work may be fed forward. with a continuous movement, the

head carrying the needle, being swung forwardly during the time the needle is engaged with the work, and then swinging backward while the needle is withdrawn from the work, the cam 27, as illustrated in dottedlines in Figs. 8, 9, 10 and'll being shaped to give the desired swinging movement to the head,f

which movement is in timed relation to the reciprocation of the needle, as both the cam blocks 39 and 4() and the cam 27 are secured loop 46 in the thread formed atthe eye of the needle so that by a rotation of the looper the loop 46 will be 'picked up and drawn through the previously formed loop 47' which, as shownin Fig.y 7 is still looped about the body of the looper and about to slip therefrom. The needle is notched .or cut "away as at 48, adjacent the eye of the needle to' allow the hook 45 toswing close to the path vof the needle and insure its engagement .with the loop 46 of the thread, and to guide the thread along the needle, said needle is `rgrooved along its under side as indicated at 49 in'fFig..7 throughout that portion of the needle which passes through the seam.`l Suitable thread tensioning and take-up devices are carried by the head or frame 16 to draw the stitches tight in the seam, the thread being led from-any suitable supply such as a spool (not shown), then back and forth through av series of openings in a plate 50 (Figs. 1 and 3) to remove any twists or kinks that may be in the thread, and from this plate it is passed downward and around aspring tensloningdevice 51 of an old and well known construction mounted upon a `plate 52 secured to the side of the frame 16.

From the tensioning device 51 the thread is passed over a pin 53 on the plate 52 and then carried downward through a loopor eye at the end of a spring arm 54 and rom'this eye upwardly through ahole in the free end of a take-up arm 55 which is secured at its'opposite end to the vprojectinor end of one of the pivot pins ortrunnions'' of the yoke 36. From the take-up arm, the thread .passes through an opening or eye at the end 0f-a spring arm 56 which is rigidly secured `at its opposite end to a plate 57 adjustably secured to the frame 16 byascrew 58 passing through a longitudinal slot in the plate, and from the eye in said arm 56 the thread passes downward to the lower end of the needle bar 34 which is formed Witha projecting portion having a guide opening 59 through which the thread passes and thence along the needle 33 in the groove 49 in the lower side thereof and through the'eye of the needle.

As the take-up arm 55 is attached to the trunnion of the yoke 36, said arm is swung coincidentally with the yoke and therefore in timed relation to the movement of the needle to take up the slack in the thread as the needle is retracted from the seam. When the needle pierces the seam, it carries with it'the loop of the thread and the first part of the withdrawal movement of the needle gives slack in the loop which forms the loop 46 (Fig. 7) through which the hook 45 ofthe looper 43 engages. Further rotation of the Iviously formed loop which is still engaged around the body of thelooper. Asthe loop 46 is drawn through, the other loop slips from the looper, thus forming a chain stitch and by this time the needle has been withdrawn from the seam and the previous loop is drawn down by the drawing out of the loo 46 in passing over the body of the looper. uring the time the needle is engaged with the seam, the sewing head is being gradually swung forward by the cam 27 to keep pace with the forward movement of the work as shown in Figs. 9 and 1Q and as soon as 'the needle has been fully .with-drawn, the head is swung backward by said cams as shown in Fig. 8, to bring the needle inproper position to form the next' stitch.

By employing a curved needle, together with a properly positioned looper, the line of stitching is formed close to the horizontal `portions of the lining material extending laterally from the seams and ample room is provided for the swinging of the needle bar and rotation of the looper so that these arts will clear the work, the inclination o the axis of rotation of the looper relative to the vertical plane of the seam also affording clearance, the inclinationl of the head laterally of the seam making this possible and also providing a compact arrangement so that the entire sewing mechanism may be contained within a small space and suspended entirely above the work, thu's permitting'of the sewing of a plurality of comparatively closely spaced parallel seams by the employment of a number of these heads, all of which may be driven from a single shaft, and each through a single pair of bevel gears affording-an arrangement adapted to permit of a swinging movement of the entire sewing mechanism upon the axis of said shaft.

Any suitable means may be employed for feeding the Worlr forward with a continuous movement and forming up and guiding the 'seam preparatory Ato the sewing operations,

ca able of broader construction in view of the pr1or art.

While the mechanism illustrated is adapted to form a chain-stitch, the invention, in certain aspects, is not limited to this ty e of mechanism. The feature of the sewngead advancing with the work while the needle engages the work and then being retracted to itsnormal position where it can again travel with the work while'making a new stitch is highly important in gang machines adapted to such a purpose, for example, as the making of cushions havin pipes or pleats filled -With strips of cotton atting, or the like. In such gang machines, itis advantageous to maintain continuous feed of the work while forming one or more cushions,

and the present invention is adapted to'this mode of operation, regardless of the type of stitch. i

Also, the feature of suspending the sewinghead from an operatin both to oscillate the hea and actuate the sewing instrumentalities carried by or associated with the head is peculiarly advantageous in a gang-sewing machine adapted to sew seams of the kind illustrated in the drawings.

The foregoing detailed description has shaft which serves i wholly at one side o the material, means for actuating said instrumentalities during the swinging movement of the head, and means for swinging the head to advance said instrumentalities with the advance of the work and to Ieltract the same after Withdrawal of the nee e.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination of means for continuously feeding forward -facing and lining material, means for forming upstanding seams of the lining and facing materials, a movable head, stitching instrumentalities including a needle carried by said head, means for driving said instrumentalitles, and means for moving said head longitudinally of said seam in timed relation to theoperation of said instrumentalities.

3. In a sewing machine the combination of a head, a shaft mounted in bearings in the head and extending longitudinally `through the head, a needle bar pivotally supported at one end upon the head, a needle carried b the free end of the needle bar and curve concentric with the pivotal axis of supptort of the bar, a looper on the end of the sha to cooperate with the needle, a cam on the shaft, and a wobble block engaging said cam and operatively connected to sald needle bar to swing the bar in timed relation to the rotation of the' shaft.

4. In a sewing machine rovided with means for feeding work wit a continuous` movement and havin a driving shaft suported above the wor the combination of a ead supported by said shaft for Swingin movement thereon, a driven shaft supporte in bearings on the head and extending longitudinally'thereof with the ends of the shaft V extending beyond the ends of the head, ears on the driving and driven shafts in the ead for transmitting motion from one to the other of said shafts, sewing instrumentalities can' ried by'said head and operated by rotation ofthe shaft in the head, said instrumentalities including a needle and a cooperating looper at the o wer end of the head adjacent' the work, and means carried by the head and operated by rotation of the shaft ,in the head for swinging the head intimed relation to said sewing instrumentalities.

' 5. A sewing machine as characterized in claim 4, wherein said means for swinging the head comprises a cam on the shaft in the head engaging a reciprocable member on the head to engage a fixed abutment iocated adjacent the head.

S. in a sewing machine the combination of a head, a shaft mounted in bearin s in the head and extending longitudinaliy t ereof, said head bein adapted to be supported with an end thereof adjacent work and spaced therefrom, a needle bar having a yoke pvotally supported upon the head with the axis of said pivotal support` at right Vangles to and intersecting the axis of the shaft, a needle carried by the needle bar to be swung between the work and head and curved concentric with the axis of pivotal support of the needle bar, a looper on the end of the shaft to cooperate with the'needle, cam members on the shaft'within the yoke of the needle bar, and a wobble block embracing the shaft between the cam surfaces of the cam members and engaging the yoke to swing the needle bar, said wobble block being free to rock independently of said yoke.

7. In a sewin machine, the combination of means for fee ing work with a continuous movement and forming an upstanding seam on the work, a driving shaft positioned above and in spaced relation to the work, supporting means for said shaft, a supporting bracket mounted on said shaft for swinging movement thereon, a sewing head mounted on said bracket with its longitudinal axis inclined to a vertical plane and laterally of the plane. of swinging movement of the bracket upon which it is mounted, a shaft mounted in bearings on the head with its axis in the longitudinal axis of the head, beveled gears on the driving shaft 4and the shaft in the head for transmitting motion to the head and permitting a swinging movement of the head about the axis of the drivinly shaft, sewing instrumentalities carried by the head and including a needle for reciprocation adjacent the work beneath the head, a looper on the lower end of the head for cooperation with said needle, a foot on the lower end of the head for embracing and guiding the upstanding seam on the Work, and means carried by the head for swinging the head in timed relation to the operation of the sewing instrumentalities.

8. In a vmachine of the character set forth;

means for continuously feeding a pluralit of plies of fabric and forming -upstan ing seams, one extending within the other; a movable head; seam-sewing inst-rumentalities carried by said head, including a needle adapted to be thrust through and withdrawn from said' seams; and means for advancing y said head with the Work while the needle is in engagement with the seams and for retracting said head after withdrawal of the needle from the seam.

9. A. machine as specified in claim 8, characteriacd by the head being pivot-ed on an operating shaft which actuates both said head and said seam-sewing instrumentalities.

10. A machine as specied in claim 8, in which the head is sus ended from an operating shaft and has journaled in the head a shaft geared to said first-mentioned Shaft, said second mentioned shaft serving to actuate the seam-sewing instrumentalities and the means for advancing the head.

11. A machine as speciied in claim 8, in which a link-chain serves as an instrumentality in advancing the work and forming a hollow rib of fabric for the seam and a blade-like guide on which the seams then pass to a point near that where the needle is entered through the seam.

12. A machine as specified in claim 8, in which a link-chain serves as an instrumentality in advancing the work and forming a hollow rib of fabric'for the seam and a blade-like guide on-which the seams then pass to a point near that where the needle is entered through the seam, and in which the seam is embraced as it leaves said bladelike guide by a furcated apertured guide through lthe aperture of which the needle Works in making the stitch.

13. In a machine of the character set forth; means for continuously feeding a plurality of plies ofv fabric and forming upstanding seams, one extendging within the other; a movable head; seam-sewing instrumentalities carried by said head, including aneedle to be thrust through and withdrawn from said seams; and means for swinging saidhead in an arc to cause the same to advance with the Work while the needle is in engagement with-the seams and to recede after Withdrawal of the needle from the seam.

14. A machine as specified in claim 8, characterized by the head being pivoted lon an operating shaft which actuates' said seamsewing instrumentalities.

15. A machine as specifiedv in claim 13, characterized by the head being pivoted on a shaft which actuates said head.

16. In a machine of the character set forth; means for continuously feeding work to be sewed; a movable head at one side of the work adapted to move inthe direction of the seam; sewing instrumentalities carried wholly by said head, includin a needle adapted to be thrust through an withdrawn from said work; and means for advancing said head with the work while the needle is in engagement therewith and for retracting said head after withdrawal of the needle from the work.

17. ln a machine of the character set forth: means for feeding a plurality of plies of vfabric and forming upstanding seams, one extending within'the other, said means 'including ridge-chains on which the seams of one of the 4fabrics are formed; and sewing mechanisms disposed on one side of the fabrics, each comprising a head and seam- 5 sewing,l instrumentalities carried by said head including a sewing-needle adapted to be thrust through and withdrawn from the seam.-

18. A machine as specified in claim 17, in which a blade-like guide co-acts with the ridge-chain'and engages the interior of the l upstanding seam as it passes from the rid e- 4chainto a point near that where the nee le is entered through the seam. A 19. A machine as specified in claim 17, in which a blade-like guide is provided `on `which the seam passes to the point where it is pierced by the sewing-needle, and in which the head is provided at its lower end with a seam-engaging shoe co-acting with said blade-like guide, said shoe having an aper' ture through which the sewing-needle works in making the stitch. 20. In a. machine of the character set forth: means. for. continuously feeding a plurality of plies of fabric and forming 'upstanding seams, one extending within the other; a pivotally suspended head disposed above l the fabrics and equipped at its lower. end with seam-embracing means; and seam-sewing instrumentalities carried by said head including a sewing-needle adapted to be thrust through and withdrawn from the seam and a co-acting looper.-

In testimony whereof I' aix my si ature.

FRANK BRINT ALL. 

